Clasping device for flexible bracelets or the like



g 1931- c. H. KESTENMAN CLASPING DEVICE FOR FLEXIBLE BRACELETS OR THELIKE Filed FeB. 6 930 Patented Aug. 25, 1931] CHARLES 3 33mm, orinovrnnncn, nnonn Is nD, AssIeNonTo KEsrrnN An nnos gmre. oo.',1 70FPROVIDENCE; RHODE rsLANn,' A CORPORATION or nnonn ISLANID qptrs'mmpnvren ron rnnxlnnn 'nnAon-nn 'rs onlrnn LIKE i i Application 'r'll ed Februaryi Thisfinvention frelates to flexible loand.s,

chains: or linkages for; usein'the manufacture of articles'ofjewelry-such as bracelets,

wrist-watch straps, girdles or the like, and

3 consists particularly in; an improvedgmeans for clasping the endsofthe band or linkage inadju'sted relationshi *One object of theinvention is to provide a clasping-m'eans adapted for use with-bands,

Yb chains and linkagesco'nstructed from a pluvided with rality ofarticulated link-elements and prov I spaced openings; alongtheir lengthyi Anotherobject' ofthe invention is to pro- 15 vide a clasping-deviceofthe type specified for engagement with the serrated'or notched edges oftheband,-ch'ain or linkageto fasten the endsofthebandtogether. I"Anotherobje'ct of the invention isto prozb 'videa device of thetype'specified which' is I simple in construction and' of, compact form toadapt it to' lie closely against the flat sides of the band, chain'orlinkage."

25 vide' a device ofthe-typespecifiedwhich is Another object of theinvention is to prostrong and sturdy in construction andiecono'mic'al-to'manufactu re.- 1

Further objects of; theimpro'vem'ent are see'forth inth'efollowing'fspecificationwhich describesl a preferred- 'form ofconstruction of-ithe' inventionj byway of example, as

illustrated :by' *the 1 accompanying drawings. Inthef'drawingS} T-Fig;1"is a perspective view representing the endsfl 'oijtwo lengthsof manband or "40 w s, f the b V ends of the' ba'nd; or'linkage showingthev 3present-improved clasp in section-' onvline 7 released fior unfastened;a

linkage arranged in overlappedrelationship L i seei t t together y m f'sf h pres .ent improved clasping-deViceyl "Fig.2 isfaplan view of thoverlapped thereto J i Fig. 3 is an edge view of theioverlapped Fig. 5isa' bottom plan view of the device a: showing'the under part ofthe"clasp broken a d Sh w n th $p.ar ied 6; 93 .;-saa;.m.426,407;

away i to illustrate the detent-means which retains the parts n closedrelationshipg fi Fig 6 is a front view of the clasp shown with its partsclosed together;'-and' t fFigQ 7 isa composite vlew illustrating the twomain elements of the clasp.

The present invention 1' concerned'pai'tics comprises a plurality oftubular link-elements arranged in adjacent parallel alinementandconnected' i-n articulated relation ship by means ofU-shaped-inembersinserted into the-hollow ends'of the adjoining links tostraddle the adjoining 3wallsthereof.

Linkages of this type are" adapted for'juse as wrist-watch straps'orrbracelets and are usually provided at their opposite ends withmeans' for attaching them to the bails of the watch; [It is desirablethat the wrist-watch strap or bracelet be adjustablein length'toa'daptyit to fit wrists of-different sizes and forthis pu'rpose the endof one'section of the b'andgor linkage is 1 overlapped withf the end ofthe opposite'length and made slidable therealong, with theclaspingsdevice adapted to'sec'ur' the sections in any desired relationshiP-.- NT

As oneifeatureof flthe presentiinvention.the

Serratedor notched edges :of the? band? or V linkage are utilized to iprovide a series "of "openings for engagement Wllllflmeans on the clasp:to secure the ends of' the band-' in ad- I j usted relationshipjSpecifically, ;the pres} ent invention contemplates the: use. incombination with a band or linkage having a 1. serrated edge of 'a'claspenclosing-the oppofsite sides of 'theloverlying' lengths of, the

band and provided hinged or otherwise bular link-elements 2extendingtransver'sely i movable means for; engagingwithflthe of theband with their sides in abutting relationship. Inserted into the hollowends of the flat tubular elements 2 at each side of the band are aseries of connecting-elements 3 which may be of any suitable structure,for instance, of bifurcated shape to adapt their legs to straddle theadjoining side walls of two adjacent links. The U- shaped or bifurcatedconnecting-elements 3 are held in place within the ends of the tubularlink-elements 2 by any suitable means, for example, by the interlockingof their legs as shown and described in my pending application forpatent hereinbefore referred to. It will be noted from Figs. 2 and 3 ofthe drawings that the connectingelements 3 have relatively square endsdisposed outwardly beyond the ends of the tubular links 2 and spacedslightly apart along the length of the band or linkage, whereby theyform openings or notches 5.

The present improved clasping-device comprises a bottom member 6, shownin detail in Fig. 7 preferably constructed from sheet-metal with abase-strip or plate 7 having opposite upwardly bent flanges 8 at itssides. The flanges 8 are formed at one end with upwardly projecting ears9 provided with alined holes 10 for receiving a hingepin 11, see Figs. 2and 3. At the opposite ends of the flanges 8 are narrow slots oropenings 12 extending parallel with the base-plate 7 and employed for apurpose as later explained.

The upper movable clasp-element or clamp 15 is similar in shape to thebottom member 6, being provided with a top-plate 16 having downwardlybent flanges 17 at its sides.

The flanges 17 V have ears 18 at their ends,

projecting upwardly at the rear of the topplate 16, their arrangementbeing opposite to that of the ears 9 on the member 6. The ears 18 areprovided with alining holes 19 for the hinge-pin 11 previouslymentioned. Bent down from the forward edge of the top-plate 16 are lugsor prongs 20 whose edges abut the sides of the lateral flanges 17. Theprongs 20 are adapted to engage in the notches 5 between the edges ofthe connect.- ing-members 3 for the links 2 of the bracelet abovedescribed. The forward edge of the top-plate 16 of the member 15 iscurled upwardly at 21 to form a lip under which the finger nail may beinserted to lift the clampmember to disengage it from the band orlinkage. At the forward ends of the flanges 17 the metal is punched inor indented to form projections or protuberances 23 on their inner faceswhich are adapted to snap into the slotted openings 12 in the flal'iges8 of the member 6 when the parts are closed together in claspedrelationship. 'The two elements 6 and 1.5 are assembled in cooperativerelationship in the manner as next ex plained.

Where the band or linkage is to be used as a wrist-watch bracelet it maycomprise two lengths or sections 25 and 26 connected at their ends tothe bails of the watch; but in other cases, where used for an ornamentalbracelet, the linkage may be made in one length with its endsconnectedby the clasping-means. The end-link 27 of the length 25 isformed with a circular loop'28, see Figs. 3 and 4, adapted to fitbetween the ears 9 of the bottom clasp-member 6 and to 're ceive thehinge-pin 11, whereby to anchor this end of the bracelet to the clasp.The upper clasp-member 15 is arranged with its side'flanges 17overlapping the flanges 8 on the bottom member 6, its ears 18 beingalined with the ears 9 and the ends of the hinge-pin 11 projectingthrough the holes 10 and 19 to hinge the upper member to the lower one.In this manner the clasp is attached to the end of the section 25 of thelinkage with its upper member or clamp 15 adapted to swivel on the pin11 to close down on the bottom member 6.

The other section 26 of the linkage is inserted through the clasp abovethe basepl ate 7, and usually the terminal portion of this part of thebracelet is provided with a slide 30 slidable along the section 25. Theslide 30 may be constructed of a narrow strip of metal having portions31 bent down from its ends to enclose the edges of the section 25 of theband and provided with alining holes for receiving a cross-pin 32. Thecross-pin 32 extends through a loop in the end-link 33 of the bandsection 26 with its ends riveted through the holes in the end portions31 of the slide 30.

In operation, the upper member or clamp 15 of the clasp is swungupwardly or lifted as illustrated in F igl 4L and the section 26 of thelinkage is then free to slide through the clasp to adjust the braceletto anydesired length. After the bracelet has been adjusted about thewrist of the wearer in this manner the clamp 15 is swung down to-engageits lugs or prongs 20 with the appropriate notches 5 in the edges of theband section 26. As the clamp 15 is closed down against the bottommember 6 the prongs or projections 20 will slide into the notches 5 andthe detent-protuberances 23 on the inner faces of the flanges 17 willsnap into the slots or openings 12 in the flanges 8 of the bottom member6 to lock the parts in closed relationship. With the clamp-member of theclasp thus engaged with the notched edges of the band or linkage theends will be securely fastened together. \Vhen it is required to loosenthe bracelet the finger nail is inserted under the lip 21 on theclampmember 15 to lift the latter to release its projections 20 from thenotches in the edges of the band. The two sections of the band may thenbe drawn out to increase the length of the bracelet whereby itmay beslipped over the hand to remove it from or place it onthe wrist.

It will be observed from the foregoing that the resent inventionprovides an extremely simple clasping-device for securing the ends of astrap, band or bracelet in con-.

nected relationship. The clasp comprises only two main elements whichmay be constructed of sheet-metal struckup in dies and assembled byinserting a hinge-pin through the ears 9 and 18 and riveting over'itsends;

The clamping-member of the clasp makes positive engagement with theedgesof the band or bracelet and the detents holdthe parts in closedrelationship so that the clasp cannot be accidentally released orunfastened. The meansfor fastening or anchoring the clasp to the end ofthe bracelet is comprised by thevhinge-pin which passes through theterminal link of one section of the band,

thus further simplifying the structure of a base-plate adapted toextend'across the underside of the linkage and provided with flangesprojecting upwardly from its lateral edges, a hinge-pin extendingbetween the i holdthe two'members in closed relationship,

and lugs on one of'said clasp-members adapted" to engage through thenotches in the edges of the linkage to secure the latter in adjustedrelationship in the clasp.

3. In a clasp for'bands'orlinkages having serrated edges, thecombination of a bottom member having a base-plate and sideflanges bentupwardly therefrom and pierced with holes, a hinge-pin extending throughthe holes in theflanges, an upper member comprising a top-plate 9provided with side flanges having holes forreceiving the ends of thehinge-pin to pivotally connect saidmember with the bottommember,'detentmeans on the side flanges of the members adapted tointerengage to hold said members in closed'relationship, and lugs bentdown from the top-plateof the upper memberin positionto'engage'theserrations in the edges of the linkage when the -top-member is swungdown into closedposition on the bottom member. i I

vIn testimony whereof Ihereunto aflix my signature.

, CHARLES H. KESTENMAN.

side flanges of said member to adapt it to v v be inserted into theend-link of one section of the linkage, and a clamp-member pivoted onsaid'hingapin and provided'with lateral flanges adapted to voverlap theside flanges of a the base-member when the clamp-member is closed downthereagainst, said clamp-member having lugs adjacent its side flanges.

adapted to engage theserrations in the edges of the linkage to hold thelatter in adjusted;

relationship in the clasp. 1 I

2. A clasp for bracelet linkages having notches in the opposite edgesthereof com- 7 prising a bottom member adapted to extend 7 across theunderside of the linkage and provided with flanges at its sidesprojecting upwardly therefrom, a hinge-pin extending between the flangesfor connection with the end-link of the linkage, a clamp-member pivotedon said hinge-pin to adaptit to close down against the top of thebottommembei and provided with sideflanges overlapping V. l the flangeson the sides ofthe'bottom momr ber, detent-protuberancesron the sideflanges of one of said clasp-members, openings in the flanges or theopposite member adapted to be engaged by the detent-protuberances to a

